Metallica wins over fans, critics at Glastonbury (+video)

Metallica's James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett perform at the Glastonbury music festival in England. Photo/AP

They're the most controversial headlining act at Glastonbury this year - but Metallica delivered where it counted, according to fans.

The hard rock band were heavily criticised in the build up to Britain's biggest festival, with critics saying they didn't belong at an event with roots heavily entrenched in alt-rock and hipster culture.

Front man James Hetfield's involvement in an Alaska bear hunting TV show didn't help things, with a petition circulating to get Metallica banned from the line-up.

"The finale was fantastic.The almost classical guitar figure weaving through epic ballad Nothing Else Matters was gorgeous, a long suspended final note from Kirk Hammett developing into the compelling, driving riff of Enter Sandman."

Elsewhere, Lana Del Rey performed to a sea of fans at the 170,000-strong festival, but she courted criticism for smoking a cigarette on stage, and the Independent called her performance "lacklustre".

"Sadly the singer, who smoked a cigarette on stage, was a big disappointment, even to some or her loyal fans," wrote the reviewer.

"Her usual stand-out track Blue Jeans failed to muster a reaction with hard-to-define vocals and lacklustre delivery, while new track Ultraviolence went largely unnoticed by a distracted crowd," he wrote.